Improvement in horseshoes



PATENT OFFICE.

HALSEY H. BAKER, OF NEW MARKET, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT iN HoRsEsHoEs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,161, dated July 10, 1866.

To all 'whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, HALSEY H. BAKER, of Newmarket, in the county of Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horseshoes; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the saine,

reference bein g had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is an inverted plan view of a horseshoev constructed according to my invention.. Fig.2 is a transverse section of the same, taken on the line x of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detached inverted plan of a portion of the shoe, showing one of the sockets formed therein for the reception of the calks. Fig. 4 is a detached side View, showing one feature of in yinventiou. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

This invention consists in a novel construe tion of and inode of securing removable calks to horseshoes, whereby both the shoes and calks are rendered much more durable than those heretofore made, and whereby the calks are eftectually prevented from slipping on ice or other smooth surfaces, and by which they may be readily attached to the shoe or detached therefrom without removing the shoe from the hoof ofthe horse, thus obviat-ing the necessity of frequently setting and sharpening the shoes, as when constructed in the usual inthe section, Fig. 2. Inasmuch as the only difference between the sockets formed for the said toe-calk and for the heel-calks C is that the latter are of much less length and breadth than the former, and the construction of the calk itself is substantially the same in both, a

description of the toe-calk' will apply to and suffice for all.

In order to make the socket a of sufficient depth to properly hold and steady the calk when placed therein. as will be presently set forth, a downwardly-projecting rim or Bange, b, is formed around it. The corners formed at the junction of the bottom and ends of the socket a are rounded, as shown more clearly at c in Fig. 2, instead of angular, and placed at a short distance from each ofthe said rounded corners c, and projecting inward from opposite sides of the socket are two cylindrical pins or projections, d, which are cast' or otherwise formed upon or secured in the said sides of the socket.

D i's a removable collar, also of malleable iron, and the circumference of which corresponds to that ot' the flange I), on which it is placed.- This collar D is provided with a flange, c, which is snugly tted into the socket a, in close contact with the inner side of the flange b. Projecting from each end of the flange e of the collar D are two thin tongues, j', one at each corner thereof. These tongues f are straight in the first instance; but when the collar D is placed upon the iiange b the said tongues f pass between the cylindrical pins cl and the rounded corners c of the socket, and the said coll-.ir being forced to its place,

either by pressure in avise or by striking with a hammer or mallet, the rounded surface of the corners c curl the tongues f inward and upward around the said pins d, as shown in Fig. 2, thus firmly and securely attaching the collar D to the shoe, so' that it forms, in fact, a part or continuation of the socket a. In order to prevent the flanges e of the collars D from being sheared off by the strain brought upon the calk by the horse in drawing a heavy load or from other causes, the front and rear sides of the flanges yb are made inclined or beveled on their outer surfaces, and the corresponding front and rear sides of the collars D are eX- tended upward over the said inclined or beveled surfaces and form lips or ribs, as shown at r in Fig.` 4, the said lips or ribs being closely fitted upon the beveled sides of the flange b, and holding the collars against any forward orbackward strain, thus relieving the thinner iianges e, at. the same time that the beveled form given to the front and rear sides of the anges b insures the firm and solid fitting of the collars D thereon.

Similar lips or Aribs may be formed on the other sides of the collar D when desired to guard against lateral strain.

The internal diameter of the colla-r D is less at its outer than at its inner side, so that the inner circumference thereof is beveled or inclined, as shown in Fig. 2; and previous to securing the said collar to the shoe, as first fully explained, a block, E, of any suitable wood, and of a shape corresponding to the interior of the socket a and collar D when placed together, is placed within the said collar, so that when the collar is att-ached to the shoe the block is confined in the socket and collar by the inclined circumferential sides of the latter, in the same manner as if it were regularly dovetailed therein.

A transverse partition, m, thinner at its inner than at its outer edge, may be formed in the collar D. thus dividing it into two parts, so that two separate blocks of wood may be used in one calk; but this partition m may be dispensed with when desired, especially in the heel-calks.

After placing the block E in the colla-r any desired number of suitably-shaped pins or wedges of hardened steel are driven into it, either from the inner or outer side thereof', and with their outer ends project-ing more or less from the outer side thereof. These pins may be in the form of solid spikes g, with sharp or pointed ends, or in the shape of square-headed nails h, or may be broad thin wedges rlhe ends of these pins or wedges projecting out from the outer side or surface of the calk enable it to take a lirm hold upon theice or other smooth surface, and thus prevent the shoe from slipping thereon, while the wood block E furnishes a Iirm support to thesaid pins or wedges.

The wood from which the block E is formed may be compressed to increase its hardness, if desired; and in order to give additional security and steadiness to the said block when placed in the socket, as set forth, small points,

ribs, or projections n may be formed upon the inner sides of the said socket in such manner as to be pressed closely into and against the said block and assist to prevent it from working or lnoving laterally in the socket. rlhe absorption of moisture by the block by eX- panding it will also cause it to lit more tightly in the socket, and also enable it to more firmly hold the steel pins or wedges snugly in place.

The shoe A being attached to the horses hoof in the usual manner, the calk may be removed therefrom either by driving a small wedge or cold-chisel `between the collar and the ange b, or by wrenching the said collar away with a pair of pinchers, the tongues f being drawn out from between the pins d and the corners c, and another calk may be put in its place by driving it into the socket, so that its tongues j' will be curled under and around the pins d of the socket, as hereinbefore fully set forth. By this means the shoe may be allowed to remain on the hoof as long as the growth of the hoof will permit without being removed to have the calks sharpened or removed, as in the shoes of ordinary construction.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The attachment of the collar D to the shoe A by means of the tongues f on the said collar and the pins or projections din the socket c, substantially as herein set forth, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the wood block E with the collar D and shoe A, substantially as herein set forth, for the purpose speciiied.

3. rlhe combination of the hardened pins, spikes, or wedges with the wood block E, secured in the collar D, substantially as herein set forth, for the purpose specified.

4. The lips or ribs r, formed on the collarD, and fitted upon the beveled sides of the tlange b of the shoe, substantially as herein set forth, for the purpose specified.

H. H. BAKER.

Witnesses:

A. LE CLERC, J. W. GooMBs. 

